Nail set



Dec. 29, 1931. J. J. STANFORD NAIL SET Filed April 11, 1931 INVENTOR) Jafizz J Jim/d ATTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 E TA ES PATENT OFFICE- JOHN J. STANFORD, or SPRINGFIELD,.MASSACHUSETTS NAIL SET Application filed April 11,

improvements in lar body member, a centrally or axially arranged slidable shaft which is the nail set proper, and means co -operating between these members for changing their I6la,t1V6 pOS1- tions, so that in one position the point of the central member is enclosed within and above the nose or lower end portion of the body member, thus forming a socket mto which the head of a nail may be inserted and retained, and, in the other position, the polnt or lower end of the central member which engages the head of a nail will project a predetermined distance beyond the nose or lower end of the body member, thus permitting the head of the nail to be driven below the surface of the material into which the nail is being driven until the nose or lower end of the body member rests upon the surface of the material, as wood, as will more fully appear.

A preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the assembled nail set showing the shaft in its elevated or retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view'through the axis of the nail set showing the shaft of the nail set adjusted or elevated to retain a nail head 7 within the nose of the body portion.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the shaft of the nail set adjusted to set the head of a nail below the surface.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

v192.1. Serial at. 529,321.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the adjusting sleeve which controls the relativepositions of the body member and the central or shaft member, and Fig. 6ris a modification of the attaching means of the sleeve.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout:

The tubular body member 1, formed with the tapered nose or end portion 2, is bored out to form the cavity 8 and the bearing 4. The adjusting sleeve 5 is formed with the annular flange or shoulder portion 6, the bore 7 extendingthrough the same and with the slots 8 and 9 and is secured in the upper end of the cavity 3 by the pin 10 engaging the bayonet slot 11 in the wall of the body portion 1. The slidable central member or shaft 12, formed with the square head 13, the integral shoulder or flange portion 14 and the reduced end 15, terminatingin the set end 16 which is slightly concave to fit the head of a nail 17, is slidably secured and guided within the bore 7' of the sleeve 5 and the bearing 4 of the body member '1. The pin 18, (see Figd), secured to the central slidable shaft member 12, engages either one of the slots 8-or 9, as the casemay be, and thus retains the desired axial relation between the 'body'mem'ber and the'central shaft member. The compression spring'19 is guided in the cavity 3 and acting between the shoulder '20 formed in the body member 1,-and the shoulder 14 on the central member 12, serves to maintain engagement of the pin 18 ineither one of the slots 8 or 9 in the sleeve 5; The slots 8 arerelatively deeper than the slots 9, thus the relative positions of theend 16 or lowerend is changed, depending upon which of the slots '8 and 9 is engaged with the pin18. The exterior surface of the body member 1 is knurled at 22 to facilitate the relative adjustment of the bodymember 1 onthe central member 12. 1

In'operation, the body member 1 is first moved upward against the action of the and-the end v21 of the nos'e'2 engagement with the short slots 9 in the sleeve 5, then rotated or turned about until the pin 18 engages or registers with the longer slots 8. In this position, the end 16 of the central member 12 is'retracted or retained within the bearing 4 and above the lower end 21 of the nose 2, as indicated in Fig. 2. In this position, the nose 2 may be set down over the head 17 of a nail 17 and the nail set is effectually prevented from slipping off the head of the nail while the latter is being driven, by striking the upper end 13. \Vhen the nail has been driven until the head is ready to be set, the pin 18 is released as before, and the body member 1 given a quarter turn about the central member 12, at which time the pin 18 will be engagedin the shorter slots 9. In this position, the end 16 projects beyond the nose 2, as indicated in Fig. 3, sufiiciently to permit the head of the nail to be set below the surface of the material 19 into which it is driven.

Referring to the construction shown in Fig, 6 in which the sleeve 5, instead of being attached to the tubular member 1 with the pin 10 and slot 11, I prcferabl employ the threads 23 on the sleeve whic engage the threads 2e on the inner upper end of the tubular member. This construction is pref erable, as it avoids any possible loose connection between the sleeve and the tubular member. The flange 6 will then rest firmly on the upper end of the tubular member 1.

What I. claim is: a

1. In a nail set the combination, of a tubular member, a shaft slidable therein, means for retaining the shaft with its lower end retracted within the tubular member or projecting therefrom, said means comprising'a slotted sleeve member located within the tubular member and through which the shaft extends and slides, a pin on the shaft,

7 the slots: of the sleeve being of unequal length and engageable y the pin when the shaftor sleeve is turned, and spring means for retaining the pin in the slots.

2. A nail set having in combination, a shouldered tubular member, a shouldered shaft slidably mounted in the tubular memher, a spring engaging the said shoulders, a sleeve secured in the tubular member and formed with slots of unequal length and through which sleeve the said shaft slides, and co-operating means between the slots of thesleeve and the shaft. for retaining the lower end of the shaft retracted into or extending from the tubular member, for the purpose des r ed- 3.. A nail sethaving in combination, a shouldered tubular member, a shouldered shaft slidably mounted in the tubular memher, a spring engaging the said shoulders, a slotted sleeve secured in the tubular member and through which the said shaft slides, and co operating means between the slots of the sleeve and the shaft for retaining the lower end of the shaft retracted into or extending from the tubular member for the purpose described, said co-operating means comprising a pin on the shaft which engages slots of slides, a pin on the shaft for engaging the said slots of the sleeve,-spring means for retaining the reduced end of the shaft extended or retracted into the smaller opening at its lower end for providing a recess to receive the head of a nail when the shaft is retracted or for engaging the head of a nail by the extended end of the shaft when the shaft is extended. a

5. A nail set having in combination, a shouldered tubular member, a shouldered shaft slidably mounted in the tubular member, a spring engaging the said shoulders, a slotted sleeve having a threaded connection with tubular member and through which the said shaft slides, and co-operating means between the slots of the sleeve and the shaft for retaining the lower end of the shaft retracted into or extending from the tubular member, for the purpose described.

JOHN J. STANFORD. 

